Decorah Police Chief Bill Nixon says his department's body cameras have been well-received

Decorah Police Department officers have been sporting body cameras for just over a year now, and Police Chief Bill Nixon says that they have been well received, particularly for the help they give in tough situations.

"Everybody has received them well," Nixon said. "The places we see the most benefit are in interactions that result in contrasting opinions. The first thing that an attorney will ask nowadays is to 'see the body cam footage.'"

Body cameras for police officers have become an industry standard according to Nixon, but there are potential issues that come along with having a camera constantly on an officer's body.

"The problem is that people assume whatever they see without thinking about the circumstance," Nixon said. "Situations are tense and happen quickly, it's just so easy to look at a video over and over and say, 'well this is where the officer could have avoided a bad situation,' it's not often that simple. The video has value but it's not always a resolution."

Moreover, Nixon pointed that body cameras are just another piece of technology that could malfunction.

"They're another piece of equipment and technology so they can break or malfunction," Nixon stated. "Just like your computer at home breaks sometimes, these can as well. Or get snagged on a seat belt and fall off the clip."

Ultimately, Nixon thinks the body cameras are the right move for policing.

"They just save the system so much time and money," Nixon said. "They help to reduce the court process. The most frequent use in Decorah is when someone complains about an officer's behavior, and I always ask to see the footage. So far, none of those claims have been legitimate."

According to Nixon, these cameras not only save money for the criminal justice system but also heighten the need for accountability and transparency for police departments and citizens alike.